by Rommuluss » Sun Jul 13, 2008 5:20 pm
The next expansion is around the corner, and I have no doubt the our Shaman Correspondent and the EQ spell Developer, whomever that may be, is hard at work looking at Shaman spells. The purpose is to give these folks another reason to carefully consider the next line of Shaman spells( you may argue, they wont bother on this forum--I have sent this directly to EQ Development to ensure that someone MIGHT look at it).
We all have our opinion about them, but I would like to appeal, or at least highlight my viewpoint on the current 76-80 Spells. My stance may differ from some, since this critique will be based on my personal experience largely during Raid encounters.
I have played my Shaman as a main character in a progression guild since 10/01, and in Diligence( with the exception of a brief stint elsewhere) since 9/02. At the very least, I think its fair to say, my experience using these spells is significant.
This exercise is not designed to be purposefuly controversial, or ridiculously critical, simply to whine and moan, or suggest that Shaman are not powerful enough, relative to other classes. Rather, to look at utility, and to make reasonable comparisons across priest classes about the that issue. Life is not 'fair', in my opinion, so to make equations with EQ, to make cardboard cut-out classes would not be desirable, even if it were achievable. I will add some possible alternatives or solutions.
First, I would reference those interested to the list of Broken Spells on this board. I will not re-address this issue. I make the assumption that each spell we have is fully functional for my evaluation, and based on Rank 3:
Shaman Level 80, #6
Talisman of Bloodworg---Fine
Shade of Renewal---Fine, although marginally weak in certain situations and far inferior to Cleric Elixir of Atonement. Improve somewhat.
Thorn Wiling---Largely useless, except in probably rare event circumstances. As a level 80 spell, completely underpowered. Replace/remove, or void next series.
Vengeance of Kerafym---Useful, but relative to Rancor, underpowered for 80th level spell. Improve significantly, or eliminate in favor of a cold DOT, magic nuke/dot or some other damage spell that justifies this level.
Preincarnation---Fine.
Ward of Resurgence---Interesting conceptually, potentially useful defensive spell, but wholly impractical with current duration, necessitating use of a valuable gem slot virtually in perpetuity. Improve Duration( and mana expenditure if necessary).
Conclusion: 2, Fine. 2 underpowered, 1 impractical, 1 essentially useless.
Shaman Level 79, #5
Chant of the Darkvine---Marginal. 6 Corruption for a group( vs 24 for Expatiate Corruption, Cleric) is at best situational, since lower level Corruption AE's and spells will either require 2 group casts, or some 3-4 to heal a single person, which is time consuming and impractical. Improve cure to 8 or more.
Pocus---Fine
Rancor of Agony--Fine
Talisman of the Stalwart---Fine.
Tundra Crumble--- Very Marginal/situational. I haven't personally used Cold damage for a number of expansions, so my actual preference is to list this as Useless. It casts too slow, in the first place, overall is weak DPS for the effort, and most important, requires another Focus effect---which is problematic. Dispose of this entire line of damage spells, or as I suggested above, make our 'pinnacle' 80th damage spell cold related---damage over time, etc. ( on a side note, I suppose one of the intial premises was that Barbarian Shaman from Everfrost should have this power, which hardly applies to Ogres/Trolls, or presently to Frogs or Vah Shir. There is no reasonable 'lore' reason to keep this spell line, but old habits apparently die hard).
Conclusion: 3, Fine, 1 Marginal, 1 Very Marginal
Shaman Level 78, #6
Ancestral Hearkening---Fine.
Ancestral Intervention---Fine.
Bite of the Brownie---Fine.
Bloodworg Focusing---Fine.
Gemmi's Restoration---Fine.( although this spell is weak for high end burst DPS situations, and relatively mana inefficient when compared to other priest classes, I personally contend that any 'improvement', if contemplated, should be focused on our heal over time).
Halcyon Zephr---Fine, but underpowered relative to Clerics, again. They are the main healing class, so its kinda hard to argue---but, did we not have this spell first? And since its arguably our most efficient heal, and the cardinal Shaman healing spell, should it really be overcast? In my judgement, this marginalizes Shaman healing signifcantly in a raid. Druids have Adrenaline Swell, which is instant, and cannot be 'altered' by Clerics, even if weaker than Clerics. Should we not be entitled to some heal that is unique(in this case, I mean has only heal effect---not a proc., like Langour)? ( the argument that slow is a our 'true' heal spell, is an interesting counterpoint, even thought BST and ENC have slow, we can overide them.) Various recent posts and arguments about healing balance on the EQ forums, at least in terms of Shaman, could arguably be solved by allowing Shaman a better hot spell than Clerics or at LEAST, to not let theirs negate ours. But, this is a long digression from the purpose of this post.
Conclusion: 5, Fine.
Shaman Level 77, #5
Feralsis---Useless. Find me a Raid NPC whom this affects( or even a subtype for most grouping), and it would be a marginal, or even reasonable additional detrimental debuff to our armementarium. Needs drastic code change to make this useful. Otherwise, dump it entirely.
Langour---Fine. However, the heal is weak, lets face it. Ideally this would be enhanced somewhat, but at least it has utility as currently implemented, and adds value to our overall healing 'style'...slow, steady, additive. (Regen+HOT+Langour+/-Epic).
Malosinatia---Fine. Crossover with Mages makes this less imperative, and in no way unique to Shaman. Arguably redundant----but one cannot count on Mages necessarily being in every raid, I suppose.
Vegu's Faithful---Useless( Fine). Raid(group). Simply not tough enough or high enough DPS to bother casting during virtually any raid encounter. This tradition of giving us a pet principally for group usage is cute, but most of us could find a better idea for this spell slot at level 77. Personally, I would like to see this consolidated with our AA Spirit Call line, giving us perhaps a 'leg up' on other classes who have these swarm pets, OR making it a spell cast single "swarm" pet that does perhaps Triple the Damage of the normal pet, lasts for two minutes with a 6 minute recast(or something to that effect). This would not please those who are already irritated by lack of gem slots, however. With the former, then, replace it with something novel, not necessarily ridiculously powered.
Rollist's Drowse---Fine.
Conclusion: 3, Fine. 2 Useless( or 2 group marginal)
Shaman 76, #6
Breath of Big Bynn---Marginal/Useless. Lack of focus effects is one criticism, and high resist rate on many Raid NPC's is another. Like the cold line, making Shaman literally have the most Damage foci effects of any class, is problematic. I rarely use this spell, unless soloing. Even then, its marginal. Replace or Improve resist check and/or available focus effect items.
Spirit of the Stalwart---Marginal/Useless. I never find that my mana pool, either in group( because of OOC) or Raid( when really everyone, or no one, could utilize the effects) ever justifies the use of this spell. I have never cast it.
Spirit of Vehemence---Marginal/Useless. In raids, I will occasionally use this for rebuffs, when mana is at a premium( uncommon at best), to buff a Tank mid-fight. Usually I hit the whole group, if for no other reason to avoid the inevitable next tell, of the next person in the group who needs. I seriously doubt anyone's game play would be remotely affected by elimination of this single target buff. Moreover, its 'taking the place' of a potentially novel or new spell, much like Spirit of the Stalwart.
Talisman of Vehemence---Fine.
Talisman of Cougar---Fine
Vestax's Spear of Venom---Fine.
Conclusion: 3, fine, 2-3 Useless/marginal
Totals: 28 spells, 16 Fine, 3 underpowered, 2 marginal, 1 very marginal, 1 impractical , 5 useless.
I truly wonder whether other priest classes's ( or any class) can honestly contend that 18% of their spells are useless, 32% dubious/useless or 43% dubioius/useless or clearly underpowered, from a utility standpoint. A question, or research project I have not studied. But that really doesnt matter so much, really. What matters is that for all those spells, something interesting/novel/unique could readily be implemented that would be more useful, and even fun.